Hildred was born Nov. 2, 1925 in Milan, Mo. to Floyd and Erma (Ford) Mason.

She always said she came from Mason jars and Ford cars.

She received her education in a one-room school until her first year of high school in Jefferson City, Mo., where she was unable to go up and down the stairs due to her severe asthma.

Her family moved to Harrah when she was a teenager and from there she moved to Camas and worked at Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill, where she met Hilmer Hochhalter at work. After WWII they were married on July 24, 1946.

Her husband served in the U.S. Army with a 26 year career. They were stationed in Europe and the U.S.

Hildred enjoyed the many moves and the experience that came with it. She really liked traveling and made many friends, whereever they were stationed. Upon retirement from the U.S. Army, they settled in Battle Ground in 1968.

She helped Hilmer remodel a 100-year-old home and planted lots of flower beds.

She made a real true friend with Charlotte Graue, when they worked together at Battle Ground School District. Hildred never forgot Charlotte.